Antenna modulation

ABSTRACT

Example implementations relate to an antenna. In some examples, a system may comprise a radio, an antenna, and an enforcer. The antenna may be connected to the radio and the antenna may be non-functional until an enabling signal is received. The enforcer may modify the enabling signal in response to a determination whether a utilization of the antenna by the radio is permitted.

BACKGROUND

Radio systems may include transmitting and receiving information usingradio waves. The radio waves may be transmitted and received bysystematically modulating properties of electromagnetic energy wavestransmitted through space such as the wave's amplitude, frequency,phase, or pulse width.

For example, a radio may include a radio transmitter and/or a radioreceiver. The radio transmitter may generate a radio frequencyalternating current by modulating a property of energy to impress asignal upon. The radio transmitter may supply the radio frequencyalternating current to an antenna. The antenna may convert the radiofrequency alternating current to the electromagnetic energy waves, orradio waves, and radiate those waves into space. An antenna may alsointercept a portion of the power of the electromagnetic waves in orderto produce a voltage to a radio receiver. The radio receiver mayelectronically amplify and/or extract information via demodulation ofthe electromagnetic wave.

Various combinations of radio transmitters, radio receivers, signalamplifiers, and/or antennas may be utilized together. Attributes ofparticular radio transmitters, radio receivers, signal amplifiers,and/or antennas may alter the power and other attributes associated witha radio wave.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a system for an antenna consistent withthe disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example of a system for an antennaconsistent with the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an example of a device consistent with thedisclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a system for an antenna consistent withthe disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The configuration and operation of radio systems is regulated by variousinternational, national, and local regulatory bodies. For example, theFederal Communication Commission (FCC) is an independent agency of theUnited Stated government that issues and enforces regulations on uses ofradio frequency spectrum in the United States. Compliance with suchregulations may be compulsory under penalty of law.

In an example, regulators, such as the FCC, may promulgate regulationslimiting the transmit power of a radio system. As used herein, the termtransmit power may, for example, refer to a total power output of theantenna plus a radio transmitter. In another example, a regulator maypromulgate a regulation limiting the portion of the radio spectrum thata particular type of radio signal or radio system may utilize. In yetanother example, a regulator may promulgate a regulation limiting howfar above the horizon an antenna may point. All that is to say that theconfiguration and the operation of radio systems are subject to variousregulations, the contravention of which subjects the radio systemoperator/installer/manufacturer to fines and/or disciplinary actions.

The regulations may be designed to preserve portions of the radiospectrum and/or to prevent interference among users of the radiospectrum. For example, Wi-Fi radio systems operate utilizing the 5 GHzportion of the radio spectrum. However, the Wi-Fi radio system is notthe prioritized user of that portion of the spectrum. For example, the 5GHz portion of the radio spectrum is shared with some radar systems,some satellite communication systems, and other systems. These systemsare incumbent radio systems of that portion of the radio spectrum. Asused herein, the term incumbent may, for example, refer to a radiosystem, a radio signal, a radio link between a transmitting radio and areceiving radio, transmitting radio in a radio link, a receiving radioin a radio link, and/or a transmitting or receiving purpose associatedwith a radio system that is given precedent over other radio systems orradio spectrum utilization purposes with regard to use of the portion ofthe spectrum. An incumbent radio system may include a radio system thatis licensed through a regulatory body to utilize a portion of the radiospectrum. As such, the regulations may be designed to prevent theability of a non-incumbent signal from a non-incumbent radio system(e.g., an unlicensed radio system operating on a shared portion of theradio spectrum), such as a Wi-Fi radio system on the 5 GHz portion ofthe spectrum, for example, to interfere with an incumbent signal from anincumbent radio system such as a radar system on the 5 GHz portion ofthe spectrum.

While some manufacturers of radio transmitters, radio receivers, andantennas perform extensive testing to establish that their equipmentconforms to the various regulations, ultimately whether the equipmentcomplies with regulations may depend on the configuration and/oroperation of the equipment in the field. For example, in the fieldvarieties of radio transmitters, radio receivers, and antennas may becombined in a manner that contravenes regulations. Further, electronicamplifiers may be utilized in the combination of radio transmitters,radio receivers, and antennas resulting in the contravention ofregulations. Further still, radio transmitters, radio receivers, andantennas may be utilized in improper configurations, orientations,and/or environments that constitute a violation of a regulation.

Radio system operators and/or radio system installers may knowinglycontravene the regulations. For example, a radio system operator and/orradio system installer may willfully assemble or operate a radio systemin a manner that violates a regulation in order to establish a radiolink between points where the radio link may not be readily establishedwithin the regulations. For example, the radio system operator and/orradio system installer may utilize equipment that was not intended to beutilized together, black or grey market equipment, amplifiers, andunapproved orientations to strengthen an otherwise weak radio linkbetween two points. The non-complaint radio systems may introduceunlawful interference with the signals of other users of the radiospectrum.

In other examples, radio system operators and/or radio system installersmay unknowingly contravene regulations. For example, a radio systemoperator and/or radio system installer may unwittingly assemble orconfigure equipment in a manner that violates regulations. Regardless ofthe intent, the non-compliant radio systems may introduce unlawfulinterference with the signals of other users of the radio spectrum.

As radio system technology and radio spectrum use evolves, so too maythe regulations. Regulations may be changed to adapt to new realitiesresulting in equipment already installed in the field falling intonon-compliance. Further, regulations may vary from location to location.For example, different countries may have different regulations. Assuch, a radio system including a particular radio transmitter,particular a radio receiver, and/or a particular antenna may comply withthe regulations in one country, but the same radio system orconfiguration thereof may violate the regulations in another country.Regardless of the reasons for non-compliance, non-compliant radiosystems may introduce unlawful interference with the signals of otherusers of the radio spectrum.

Persistent violation of the regulations combined with a lack of anability to directly monitor and control the operation and configurationof radio systems has led to increased regulations and unwillingness togrant access to large portions of the radio spectrum. In contrast, theexamples included herein may provide a direct mechanism for radiospectrum regulation compliance and enforcement through modifying anability of the antenna to radiate a signal. The examples may include asystem comprising a radio, an antenna connected to the radio, and anenforcer. The antenna may be non-functional until an enabling signal isreceived and the enforcer may modify the enabling signal in response toa determination whether a utilization of the antenna by the radio ispermitted.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a system 100 for an antenna consistentwith the disclosure. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the system 100 may be aradio system for transmitting and receiving information using radiowaves.

The system 100 may include a radio 102. A radio 102 may includeelectronic components to operate as a radio transmitter and/or a radioreceiver. That is, the radio 102 may include radio frequency transmitand/or receive functionality.

In FIG. 1, the radio 102 is illustrated as located within a radio head104. The radio head 104 may include a discrete housing containing thetransmit functions, receive functions, filtering, amplificationequipment, and/or a baseband radio processor of the system 100. As usedherein, the term discrete housing may, for example, refer to a housingthat is individually physically separate, distinct, outside of, and/ordiscontinuous with an antenna housing 106 and/or an antenna 108. Theradio head 104 may utilize a real-time operating system (RTOS) as itsfirmware. The radio head 104 may be physically separate from an antennahousing 106. However, the system 100 is not limited to such a topology.For example, the system 100 may instead have a topology that does notinclude a radio head 104, but instead utilizes a stand-alone discreteradio 102 in cabled communication with the antenna housing 106. As usedherein, the term discrete radio may, for example, refer to a radio thatis individually physically separate, distinct, outside of, and/ordiscontinuous with a radio head 104, an antenna housing 106, and/or anantenna 108. In another example, the system 100 may instead have theradio 102 located within or combined with the antenna housing 106. Forexample, the system may have a topology of a Wi-Fi access point havingthe radio 102 and the antennas 108-1 . . . 108-N (hereinafterindividually and/or collectively referred to as antenna 108) combinedwithin a single housing. That is, the examples described herein may workwith all varieties of radio technology and link topologies regardless ofthe location or collocation of the radio 102 and the antenna 108 andwhether the interface between the radio 102 and the antenna 108 isphysical cabling or a digital interface. FIG. 1 illustrates the system100 topology including the radio 102 within a radio head 104 for ease ofillustration, but this topology should not be taken in a limiting sense.

The radio 102 may generate a radio frequency alternating current bymodulating a property of energy to impress a signal upon. The radio 102may supply the radio frequency alternating current to an antenna 108.

As described above, the system 100 may include an antenna housing 106.The antenna housing 106 may be a discrete antenna housing 106 that isphysically separate from the radio head 104 and/or the radio 102. Asused herein, the term discrete antenna housing may, for example, referto an antenna housing that is individually physically separate,distinct, outside of, and/or discontinuous with a radio head 104 and/orthe radio 102. However, in some examples, the antenna housing 106 mayinclude the radio 102. The antenna housing 106 may include a housing forthe antenna 108 of the system.

The antenna 108 may include a radiating portion that radiateselectromagnetic energy waves, or radio waves, in a particularthree-dimensional region of space in response to a signal from a radio102 utilizing the antenna 108 for transmitting and receiving radiosignals. The three-dimensional region may be defined by a property ofeach antenna 108 called its “pattern”. For example, the antenna 108 mayinclude a directional or an omnidirectional pattern, or may be capableof switching between the two in some implementations. The antenna 108may convert a radio frequency alternating current received from theradio 102 to the electromagnetic energy waves, or radio waves, andradiate those waves into space. An antenna 108 may also intercept aportion of the power of an electromagnetic waves traveling through spacein order to produce a voltage to the radio 102. The radio 102 mayelectronically amplify and/or extract information via demodulation ofthe electromagnetic wave.

The system 100 may include a disabling switch 110. The disabling switch110 may be located and/or operational within the antenna housing 106.The disabling switch 110 may be a physical component located in line ina path between the radio 102 and the antenna 108. For example, thedisabling switch 110 may be instantiated as a “dead man” radio frequencyswitch such as a PIN diode that operates in a normally open position inthe path of cabling that carries signals between the radio 102 and theantenna 108. As such, the connection between the radio 102 and theantenna may be interrupted by the presence of the disabling switch 110in its default open position. The disabling switch 110 may enter aclosed position, thereby eliminating the interruption in the path of thecabling, responsive to an enabling signal. Upon removal of the enablingsignal and/or upon receiving a disabling signal, the disabling switch110 may return to a default open position.

As described above, in a default state without the application of anenabling signal the disabling switch 110 may remain open and theconnection between the radio 102 and the antenna 108 may remaininterrupted. Consequently, the antenna 108 may have a non-functional ordisabled default state. That is, the antenna 108 may have a defaultnon-radiating state as the signal from the radio 102 is prevented fromreaching the antenna 108 for transmission on account of the interruptedsignal path there between. In other words, the antenna 108 may benon-functional and/or disabled in the absence of an enabling signalprovided to the disabling switch 110. That is, the antenna 108 may benon-functional until an enabling signal is received at the disablingswitch 110. This is in contrast to antennas that are simply passiveradio system equipment that may be cabled up to a radio and willimmediately begin to work. Instead, the antenna 108 may rely on anenabling signal and/or the absence of a disabling signal following anenabling signal to serve as an antenna for the radio 102.

In some examples, the disabling switch 110 may alternatively be locatedin line in a power supply to the antenna 108. In these examples, thedisabling switch 110 may interrupt and/or redirect the power supplied tothe antenna 108 such that the antenna 108 may be in a non-functionaland/or disabled state in the absence of an enabling signal to thedisabling switch 110. Regardless of whether the disabling switch 110interrupts the power supply to the antenna 108 or the signal from theradio 102 to the antenna 108, the antenna 108 may not function toradiate the signal from the radio 102 as a radio wave when the disablingswitch 110 is in the default open state.

As described above, the system 100 may include topologies where theradio 102 and the antenna 108 are housed together in a single enclosuresuch as the antenna housing 106 eliminating external cabling between theradio 102 and the antenna 108. In such examples, the radio 102 may havea more direct control over the operation of the antenna 108. In suchexamples, the disabling switch 110 may be instantiated inmachine-readable instructions executable by a processor within thesingle enclosure to render the antenna 108 to a non-functional and/ordisabled state (e.g., unable to radiate in response to a signal from theradio 102) in the absence of an enabling signal.

The system 100 may include an enforcer 112. The enforcer 112 may belocal to the antenna 108. For example, the enforcer 112 may includeelectronic components and/or machine-readable instructions executable bya processing resource associated with the antenna housing 106. In someexamples, the electronic components and/or processing resource may belocated within the antenna housing 106.

The enforcer 112 may include electronic components and/ormachine-readable instructions executable by a processing resource tomodify an enabling signal provided to the disabling switch 110.Modifying the enabling signal may include controlling a state of theenabling signal. For example, modifying the enabling signal may includeproducing and/or providing the enabling signal. Modifying the enablingsignal may include discontinuing production of and/or discontinuing theprovision of the enabling signal. The enabling signal may include aphysical signal and/or digital instructions provided to the disablingswitch 110. Responsive to receiving the enabling signal, the disablingswitch 110 may enable the operation of the antenna 108. For example,response to receiving the enabling signal, the disabling switch 110 mayeliminate the interruption of power to the antenna 108 and/or mayeliminate the interruption of the communication of a signal from theradio 102 to the antenna 108. The disabling switch 110 may, for example,eliminate the interruption by switching the disabling switch 110 from adefault open state to a closed state.

The enforcer 112 may modify the enabling signal by producing theenabling signal and/or applying the enabling signal to the disablingswitch 110. Applying the enabling signal to the disabling switch 110 maycause the disabling switch 110 to enable the antenna 108 for use as anantenna for the radio 102. The disabling switch 110 may continue toenable the antenna 108 for use as an antenna for the radio 102 as longas the enabling signal is continuously applied. In some examples, thedisabling switch 110 may continue to enable the antenna 108 forutilization as a radio signal radiator for the radio 102 so long as thedisabling switch receives additional enabling signals or enabling signalconfirmations within predetermined periods of time. In some examples,the disabling switch 110 may continue to enable the antenna 108 forutilization as an antenna for the radio 102 until a disabling signal isreceived. The disabling signal may include the absence of an enablingsignal, or an explicit disabling signal. As such, the enforcer maymodify the enabling signal by applying the enabling signal to thedisabling switch 110 continuously, applying the enabling signal to thedisabling switch 110 periodically, discontinuing the application of theenabling signal to the disabling switch 110, and/or applying a disablingsignal to the disabling switch 110.

The enforcer 112 may modify the enabling signal in response to adetermination whether a utilization of the antenna 108 by the radio 102is permitted. The determination of whether a utilization of the antenna108 by the radio 102 is permitted may be based on a comparison of anattribute of the antenna 108 to a rule. Additionally, the determinationof whether a utilization of the antenna 108 by the radio 102 ispermitted may be based on a comparison of an attribute of the radio 102to a rule. In some examples, the determination of whether a utilizationof the antenna 108 by the radio 102 is permitted may be based on acomparison of an attribute of the radio 102 and an attribute of theantenna 108 to a rule.

As used herein, an attribute of an antenna 108 may, for example, includea characteristic of the antenna 108. However, the attribute of theantenna 108 may also include a characteristic of the antenna housing 106that the antenna 108 is located within. An attribute of an antenna 108may additionally include characteristics of components within and/orassociated with the antenna housing 106. An attribute of an antenna 108may include characteristics of components associated with the antenna108 and/or the antenna housing 106 that may influence the operation ofthe antenna 108. Additionally, an attribute of an antenna 108 mayinclude characteristics of an environment of the antenna 108.

For example, an attribute of the antenna 108 may include a uniqueidentifying number associated with the antenna 108 and/or antennahousing 106, a make associated with the antenna 108 and/or antennahousing 106, a model associated with the antenna 108 and/or antennahousing 106, a manufacturer associated with the antenna 108 and/orantenna housing 106, a type associated with an antenna 108 and/orantenna housing 106, a beam pattern associated with the antenna 108and/or antenna housing 106, a polarization associated with the antenna108 and/or antenna housing 106, a gain associated with the antenna 108and/or antenna housing 106, an operating bandwidth associated with theantenna 108 and/or antenna housing 106, and other characteristics of theantenna 108 and/or antenna housing 106. As used herein, the term gainmay, for example, include a metric of the antenna's 108 directivity andelectrical efficiency that may be expressed as a ratio of the powerproduced by the antenna 108 from a far-field source on the antenna's 108beam access to the power produced by a hypothetical lossless isotropicantenna. These and other attributes may be determined and/or stored inan attribute repository 114 by a manufacturer. The attribute repository114 may include a data storage architecture such as a database thatutilizes a security protocol including encryption to avoid altering ofthe data by an operator and/or installer. The attribute repository 114may be local to the antenna 108 and local to the antenna housing 106.For example, the attribute repository 114 may include attributes storedon a machine-readable storage medium associated with the antenna housing106 that houses the antenna 108. In some examples, attributes may bestored on a machine-readable storage medium located within the antennahousing 106.

An attribute of an antenna 108 may also include a licensing status ofthe antenna 108, a payment status of the antenna 108, a maintenanceagreement status of the antenna 108, and/or a warranty status of theantenna 108. A licensing status may include a status indicator (e.g.,e.g., valid, invalid, expired, paid, unpaid, etc.) associated with alicensing agreement related to owning, operating, and/or possessing theantenna 108. The licensing agreement may be an agreement between anowner or operator of the antenna 108 and a commercial entity such as amanufacturer, leasing entity, a service provider, a maintenanceprovider, and/or distributor of the antenna 108. Alternatively oradditionally, the licensing agreement may be an agreement between anowner or operator of the antenna 108 and a regulatory body such as aregulatory agency that promulgates radio spectrum regulations. Thepayment status may include a status indicator (e.g., paid, unpaid, latepayment, pending payment, etc.) associated with a payment related toowning, operating, and/or possessing the antenna 108. The payment may bea payment from an owner or operator of the antenna 108 to a commercialentity such as a manufacturer, leasing entity, a service provider, amaintenance provider, and/or distributor of the antenna 108. The paymentmay be a payment to purchase the antenna 108, a payment to lease theantenna 108, and/or a payment to operate the antenna 108. A maintenanceagreement status may include a status indicator (e.g., active, inactive,in renewal period, void, level of service, etc.) associated with themaintenance agreement for providing maintenance to the antenna 108and/or radio system. The maintenance agreement may be an agreementbetween the owner or operator of the antenna 108 and a commercial entitysuch as a manufacturer, leasing entity, a service provider, amaintenance provider, and/or distributor of the antenna 108. A warrantystatus may include a status indicator (e.g., valid, invalid, expired,registered, unregistered, etc.) associated with a warranty agreementrelated to owning, operating, and/or possessing the antenna 108. Thewarranty agreement may be an agreement between an owner or operator ofthe antenna 108 and a commercial entity such as a manufacturer, leasingentity, a service provider, a maintenance provider, and/or distributorof the antenna 108. The information may be stored in attributerepository 114 or stored and/or updated from a remote attributerepository accessible by the enforcer 112 over a network connection.

An attribute of an antenna 108 may also include telemetry data defininga three-dimensional orientation of the antenna 108 and/or antennahousing 106. Such attributes may be collected from a sensor 116. Asensor 116 may include a single sensor or a sensor package. The sensor116 may include electronic components and/or machine-readableinstructions executable by a processor to sense metrics associated withthe three-dimensional orientation of the antenna 108 and/or the antennahousing 106. The sensor 116 may be local to the antenna 108 and/or theantenna housing 106. For example, the sensor 116 may be associated withthe antenna housing 106 that is housing the antenna 108. In someexamples, the sensor 116 may be located within the antenna housing 106.The sensor 116 may include an accelerometer, a thermometer, a compass,an altimeter, a global positioning system (GPS) receiver and/or adedicated GPS antenna, etc. As such, the attributes of the antenna 108and/or antenna housing 106 collected from the sensor 116 may include,but are not limited to, latitude of the antenna 108 and/or antennahousing 106, longitude of the antenna 108 and/or antenna housing 106,country of operation of the antenna 108 and/or antenna housing 106, anelevation of the antenna 108 and/or antenna housing 106, a pointingazimuth of the antenna 108 and/or antenna housing 106, a pointing tiltangle of the antenna 108 and/or antenna housing 106, whether the antenna108 and/or antenna housing 106 is deployed outdoors, whether the antenna108 and/or antenna housing 106 is in motion, a velocity of travel of theantenna 108 and/or antenna housing 106, etc.

As used herein, an attribute of a radio 102 may, for example, include acharacteristic of the radio 102. However, the attribute of the radio 102may also include a characteristic of a housing associated with the radio102 such as a radio head 104 or antenna housing 106 that the radio 102is located within. An attribute of a radio 102 may additionally includecharacteristics of components within and/or associated with the radio102 or a housing thereof. The components may include components that mayinfluence the operation of the radio 102. Additionally, an attribute ofa radio 102 may include characteristics of an environment of the radio102.

For example, an attribute of a radio 102 may include a uniqueidentifying number of the radio 102, a make of the radio 102, a model ofthe radio 102, a manufacturer of the radio 102, a type of device of theradio 102, a license status (e.g., valid, invalid, expired, paid,unpaid, etc.) of the radio 102 and/or a warranty status (e.g., valid,invalid, expired, registered, unregistered, etc.) of the radio 102. Theattribute of the radio 102 may include a configured operating centerfrequency of the radio 102, a channel bandwidth of the radio 102, aconfigured transmit (Tx) duty cycle of the radio 102, a conducted powerof the radio 102, an amplitude of a signal transmitted from the radio102 en route to the antenna 108, etc. The attributes may be collectedfrom the radio 102 and/or a remote storage unit across a networkconnection. The attributes may be collected by the enforcer 112.

The attributes may be collected utilizing a sensing radio 118. Thesensing radio 118 may be a discrete sensing radio. As used herein, theterm discrete sensing radio may, for example, refer to a sensing radiothat is individually physically separate, distinct, outside of, and/ordiscontinuous with a radio 102 and/or a radio head 104. The sensingradio 118 may include a transmit (Tx) sensing radio. The Tx sensingradio may be local to the antenna 108. For example, the Tx sensing radiomay be located within the antenna housing 106 and/or in line with acommunication path, such as a cabled interface, between the radio 102and the antenna 108.

The Tx sensing radio may intercept and analyze a signal transmitted fromthe radio 102 to the antenna 108 to measure attributes of the signalsuch as its amplitude. From these measurements, the Tx sensing radio maydetermine and/or provide that data to determine the attributes of theradio 102 sending the signal. Since, as described above, some radiosystem operators and installers may install an amplifier to boost asignal as it leaves the radio 102 but before it reaches the antenna 108a simple direct querying of the radio 102 to determine the attributes ofthe radio 102 may not accurately represent a transmit power associatedwith the radio 102. Utilizing the Tx sensing radio may allow for thecollection of attributes of a radio 102 that account for the values ofsignals actually received by the antenna 108 from the radio 102 andincorporate those values into the attributes of the radio 102. In someexamples, a mismatch between a value of a signal received by the antenna108 from the radio 102 and a stored and/or predefined attributeassociated with the radio 102 may be characterized as suspicious andinstigate an immediate modification of an enabling signal to disable theantenna 108.

In addition to the Tx sensing radio, the sensing radio 118 may include asecond radio. For example, the sensing radio 118 may include a discretereceive (Rx) sensing radio. The Rx sensing radio may be physicallyseparate from a discrete Tx sensing radio described above and the radio102. As used herein, the term discrete Rx sensing radio may, forexample, refer to a housing that is individually physically separate,distinct, outside of, and/or discontinuous with a radio 102, a radiohead 104, and/or a Tx sensing radio. The Rx sensing radio may be locatedwithin the antenna housing 106 in line in a path between the radio 102and the antenna 108. The Rx sensing radio may utilize the antenna 108 todetect the presence of transmitters and/or radio signals associated withan incumbent radio link within a beam path of the antenna 108.Alternatively, the Rx sensing radio may utilize a separate and/ordifferent antenna than the antenna 108 to detect the presence oftransmitters and/or radio signals associated with an incumbent radiolink. For example, the Rx sensing radio may utilize separate antenna ofa different antenna type from the antenna 108 to detect the presence oftransmitters and/or radio signals associated with an incumbent radiolink. For instance, the Rx sensing radio may utilize an omnidirectionalantenna instead of a directional antenna 108. The Rx sensing radio mayhave distinct power level from the Tx sensing radio. For example, the Rxsensing radio may detect relatively weak radio signals that havetraversed space while the Tx sensing radio may detect substantially thefull power of the radio 102 just before it reaches the antenna 108 fortransmission. Additionally, the Rx sensing radio may be configured todetect specific modulation characteristics or signatures of radiosignals that are known to distinguish the radio signals as belonging toan incumbent radio link. The utilization of the Rx sensing radio withinan antenna housing 106 may offload, augment, and/or relive thecorresponding decoding responsibilities of a radio head 104.

As described above, the determination of whether a utilization of theantenna 108 by the radio 102 is permitted may be based on a comparisonof an attribute of the radio 102 and/or an attribute of the antenna 108to a rule. The rule may include a regulation. A regulation may include arestriction regarding the configuration and/or operation of radiosystems and/or the use of the radio spectrum by radio systems such assystem 100. The regulation may be based a standard and/or rulepromulgated by an official regulatory body that is empowered to regulatethe use of the radio spectrum. A regulation may carry with it the forceof law and/or subject a violator to fines and/or disciplinary actions. Anon-limiting example of a regulation may include a maximum equivalentisotropically radiated power (EIRP), or transmit power, from the system100 (e.g., the total power output for the antenna 108 and the radio 102when the radio 102 utilizes the antenna 108 to transmit a radio signal).Other non-limiting examples of regulations may include a regulationlimiting the portion of the radio spectrum that a particular type ofradio signal may utilize, a regulation limiting how far above thehorizon an antenna 108 may point, a regulation awarding precedent toincumbent radio links over a portion of the radio spectrum, a regulationspecifying allowable combinations of varieties of radios and antennas.The regulation may be an international, national, and/or local rule.

As used herein, the term rule may, for example, not be limited toregulations promulgated by official regulating bodies and/or rulescarrying the weight of law. As used herein, the term rule may, forexample, additionally include business and/or commercial terms. Forexample, a rule may include a manufacturer, distributor, or brand ruleor term of service. For example, the rule may include a rule prohibitingthe combination of a certain radio 102 or antenna 108 type, make, model,manufacturer, serial number, unique identifier with third party radio orantenna. In another example, the rule may include a rule prohibiting theoperation of a radio 102 and/or an antenna 108 outside of a license orwarranty period. Alternatively, the rule could be the absence ofmanufacturer certification to combine a certain radio 102 with a certainantenna 108 type.

The above described rules may be stored as instructions on amachine-readable medium in a rule repository 120. The rule repository120 may include a data storage architecture such as a database. The rulerepository 120 may utilize a security protocol including encryption toavoid altering of the data by an operator and/or installer. The rulerepository 120 may be local to the antenna 108. For example, the rulerepository 120 may be associated with the antenna housing 106 that ishousing the antenna 108. In some examples, the rule repository 120 maybe located within the antenna housing 106. The rule repository 120 maybe populated by manufacturers during manufacture. However, the rulerepository 120may be updated periodically from a remote rule repository.For example, radio spectrum regulations are subject to change. As such,when radio spectrum regulations are updated or changed a rule repository120 may be updated from a remote rule repository operated by aregulatory body and/or regulation promulgating service to reflect thechange. Additionally, rules associated with commercial entities such asmanufacturers, distributors, service providers, maintenance providers,leasing entities, etc. may be periodically updated or changed. The rulerepository 120 may be updated from a remote rule repository operated bysuch a commercial entity. Regardless of the operator of the remote rulerepository, the remote rule repository may be a discrete rulerepository. As used herein, the term discrete rule repository may, forexample, refer to a rule repository that is individually physicallyseparate, distinct, remote from, outside of, and/or discontinuous withan antenna housing 106

As described above, the rules may be stored in and/or retrieved from aremote rule repository. For example, the rules may be stored in a remoterule database that is accessible to and/or part of an externalauthorization manager 122, which is discussed in greater detail below.

Once again, the determination of whether a utilization of the antenna108 by the radio 102 is permitted may be based on a comparison of anattribute of the radio 102 and/or an attribute of the antenna 108 to arule. In some examples, such a determination may be made by the enforcer112. That is, the enforcer 112 may conduct the comparison of inputs ofthe attribute of the radio 102 and/or the attribute of the antenna 108to a rule to determine if the utilization is permitted. The enforcer 112may determine that the utilization is not permitted when the attributeof the radio 102 and/or the attribute of the antenna 108 indicate thatoperation of the system 100 will violate a rule. The enforcer 112 maydetermine that the utilization is permitted when the attribute of theradio 102 and/or the attribute of the antenna 108 do not indicate thatoperation of the system 100 will violate a rule.

In some examples, the enforcer 112 may determine whether a utilizationof the antenna 108 by the radio 102 is permitted in response to anauthorization signal received from an external authorization manager122. A portion of the authorization manager 122 may be remote from theantenna 108, the antenna housing 106, and/or the radio 102. For example,the authorization manager 122 may be located on a server remote from theantenna housing 106. The authorization manager 122 may includemachine-readable instructions executable by a processing resource tooperate as a spectrum access system (SAS).

For example, the authorization manager 122 may perform the comparison ofan attribute of the radio 102 and/or an attribute of the antenna 108 toa rule to determine if a utilization of the antenna 108 by the radio 102is permitted. The authorization manager 122 may be in communication withthe enforcer 112 and/or the antenna housing 106 across a communicationnetwork such as the Internet. As used herein, being in communicationwith the antenna housing 106 may, for example, include being incommunication with the hardware, processing resources, and/ormachine-readable instruction components of the antenna housing 106. Forexample, being in communication with the antenna housing 106 may includebeing in communication with the enforcer 112, the antenna 108, thedisabling switch 110, the attribute repository 114, the regulationrepository 120, the sensor 116, the sensing radio 118, etc.

The enforcer 112 may collect and/or package for transmission theattribute of the radio 102, the attribute of the antenna 108, a rule,and/or other data from the sensing radio 118, the sensor 116, theattribute repository 114, and/or the rule repository 120. The enforcer112 may communicate the collected data over the network to the externalauthorization manager 122 for use as inputs in its comparison.

The external authorization manager 122 may be operated by a manufacturerof the radio 102, a manufacturer of the antenna 108, a third party, aregulatory body, etc. The external authorization manager 122 may includeand/or have access to international, national, and/or local rules,equipment specifications for various radios and/or antennas, testingdata from manufacturers of various radios and/or antennas, a repositoryof transmitters and/or radio links operating in a corresponding portionof the radio spectrum, etc.

In some examples, the external authorization manager 122 may compare theabove described inputs received from the enforcer 112 and utilize themto derive and/or compare an EIRP for a proposed utilization of anantenna 108 by a radio 102 to an EIRP regulation. If the comparisonresults in a determination that the EIRP for a proposed utilization ofan antenna 108 by a radio 102 violates a rule, then the externalauthorization manager 122 may discontinue and/or refrain fromtransmitting an authorization signal to the antenna housing 106. Thediscontinuation and/or lack of an authorization signal received at theantenna housing 106 and/or by the enforcer 112 may result in adetermination that a utilization of an antenna 108 by a radio 102 is notpermitted and the enforcer 112 may refrain from or discontinue theprovision of an enabling signal to the disabling switch 110. If thecomparison results in a determination that the EIRP for a proposedutilization of an antenna 108 by a radio 102 does not violate a rule,then the external authorization manager 122 may transmit and/or continuetransmitting an authorization signal to the antenna housing 106. Theprovision and/or continued provision of an authorization signal receivedat the antenna housing 106 and/or by the enforcer 112 may result in adetermination that a utilization of an antenna 108 by a radio 102 ispermitted and the enforcer 112 may provide an enabling signal to thedisabling switch 110.

In an example, the external authorization manager 122 may also includeand/or have access to radio spectrum utilization data and/or radiomodeling functionality. For example, the external authorization manager122 may include and/or have access to data defining a currentutilization of the radio spectrum by incumbent radio systems and/ornon-incumbent radio systems. The external authorization manager 122 mayutilize its radio modeling functionality to model the signals fromand/or the utilization across the radio spectrum by the incumbent radiosystems and/or non-incumbent radio systems. The radio model may includea mathematical and/or digital representation of measured and/orpredicted locations and transmission paths of the modeled radio systems.The radio spectrum utilization data and/or the radio models may beutilized in the comparison of the above described inputs received fromthe enforcer 112 to a rule. For example, the rule may include aregulation prohibiting interference with an incumbent radio signal. Theexternal authorization manager 122 may incorporate portions of the abovedescribed inputs received from the enforcer 112 into a radio model todetermine whether the utilization of the antenna 108 by the radio 102may result in an interference with an incumbent signal and therefore aviolation of the regulation. The determination may be based on acomparison of a radio model of the utilization of the antenna 108 by theradio 102 to a radio model of an incumbent radio link.

In an instance where the utilization of the antenna 108 by the radio 102poses an interference risk over a particular threshold amount, theexternal authorization manager 122 may discontinue and/or refrain fromtransmitting an authorization signal to the antenna housing 106. Again,the determination may be based on a comparison of a radio model of theutilization of the antenna 108 by the radio 102 to a radio model of anincumbent radio link. The discontinuation and/or lack of anauthorization signal received at the antenna housing 106 and/or by theenforcer 112 may result in a determination that a utilization of anantenna 108 by a radio 102 is not permitted and the enforcer 112 mayrefrain from or discontinue the provision of an enabling signal to thedisabling switch 110. In an instance where the utilization of theantenna 108 by the radio 102 does not pose an interference risk over aparticular threshold amount, the external authorization manager 122 maytransmit and/or continue transmitting an authorization signal to theantenna housing 106. The provision and/or continued provision of anauthorization signal received at the antenna housing 106 and/or by theenforcer 112 may result in a determination that a utilization of anantenna 108 by a radio 102 is permitted and the enforcer 112 may providean enabling signal to the disabling switch 110.

Although described as a signal providing an affirmative authorization inthe examples above, it should be understood that the authorizationsignal generated by the external authorization manager 122 mayalternatively be a rejection or a de-authorization. In such examples,the rejection or de-authorization may have an opposite effect on theenforcer 112 and/or the disabling switch 110 as its affirmativeauthorization counterpart described above.

Portions of the system 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 may be utilized invarious compliance modes and combinations thereof. For example, a firstcompliance mode may include a physical installation verification mode.In a physical installation verification mode, the enforcer 112 mayperform a self-contained utilization authorization. As used herein, theterm self-contained utilization authorization may, for example, refer toa modification of the enabling signal to a disabling switch 110 based ona determination of whether a utilization of the antenna 108 by the radio102 is permitted. Further a self-contained utilization may include anexample where the modification of the enabling signal and/or thedetermination of whether the utilization is permitted is performed localto the antenna 108 and/or the antenna housing 106. That is, theself-contained utilization authorization may occur within the antennahousing without the intervention of remote systems, such as the externalauthorization manager 122, and/or communication therewith. That is, theillustrated components of the antenna housing 106 may operate toself-verify whether a utilization of the antenna 108 by the radio 102 ispermitted.

The physical installation verification mode may include the enforcer 112collecting attributes of the antenna 108 from the attribute repository114 and/or the sensor 116. The physical installation verification modemay include the enforcer 112 collecting a rule from the rule repository120. The physical installation verification mode may include theenforcer 112 comparing the attributes of the antenna 108 to the rule todetermine whether the utilization of the antenna 108 by the radio 102 ispermitted.

For example, in the physical installation verification mode the enforcer112 may compare attributes of the antenna 108, such as its beam pattern,its location, a direction of its movement, a velocity of its movement,its pointing angle, and whether it is outdoors, to corresponding rulesto determine if a utilization is permitted. In an example, the enforcer112 may compare a country of location of the antenna 108 to a ruleregarding whether its utilization is permitted in that country.Similarly, the enforcer 112 may compare the location and movement of theantenna 108 to determine whether the antenna 108 has crossed a nationalborder and then may compare a new country of location of the antenna 108to a rule regarding whether its utilization is permitted in thatcountry. In another example, the enforcer 112 may compare a country oflocation and a pointing angle of the antenna 108 to a rule regardingpermitted pointing angles for the antenna 108 in that country. In yetanother example, the enforcer 112 may compare whether the antenna 108 isdeployed outdoors with a rule regarding whether the specific type, make,model, manufacturer, serial number, unique identifier, etc. of antenna108 is allowed to be operated outdoors.

The enforcer 112 may determine, by the comparison of the attributes ofthe antenna 108 to the rule, whether the utilization of the antenna 108with the collected attributes by the radio 102 is permitted. Theenforcer 112 may determine that the utilization is permitted if it doesnot violate a rule. In such instances, the enforcer 112 may modify anapplication of the enabling signal to the disabling switch by applyingthe enabling signal to the disabling switch 110. The enforcer 112 maydetermine that the utilization is not permitted if it potentiallyviolates a rule. In such instances, the enforcer 112 may modify anapplication of the enabling signal to the disabling switch by refrainingfrom and/or discontinuing application of an enabling signal to thedisabling switch 110.

The disabling switch 110 may disable the function of the antenna 108 inresponse to not receiving and/or no longer receiving an enabling signalfrom the enforcer 112. A disabled antenna 108 may include an antenna 108that is rendered non-functional and/or unavailable to be utilized by theradio 102. The system 100 may communicate to a system operator that theantenna 108 is disabled. For example, the system 100 may generate ablinking LED, an error message, a system log, etc. that is visible tothe system operator. The disabling switch 110 may enable the function ofthe antenna 108 in response to receiving and/or continuing to receive anenabling signal from the enforcer 112. An enabled antenna 108 mayinclude an antenna 108 that is rendered unavailable to be utilized bythe radio 102.

A second compliance mode may include a product verification mode. Incontrast to the physical installation verification mode described above,the product verification mode may communicate with devices remote fromthe antenna housing 106 to verify product combinations and/orattributes. For example, a product verification mode may include a modewhere an enforcer 112 may collect attributes of the antenna 108 from theattribute repository 114 and/or the sensor 116. The enforcer 112 maycollect attributes of the radio 102 across a communication link betweenthe enforcer 112 and the radio 102. For example, in topologies where theradio 102 and the antenna housing 106 are discrete and physicallyseparate from one another, the enforcer 112 may collect attributes ofthe radio 102 utilizing a communication link such as a cabledconnection, an Ethernet cabled connection, a data over cable serviceinterface specification (DOCSIS) connection, a network connection, awireless connection, a Bluetooth connection, a Zigbee connection, aconnection over the Internet, a connection over a network switch, etc.

In the product verification mode, the enforcer 112 may compare theattributes of the antenna 108 and/or the attributes of the radio 102 toa rule. For example, the enforcer 112 may compare type, make, model,manufacturer, serial number, unique identifier, etc. attributes of theantenna 108 and/or the radio 102 to a rule regarding whether the type,make, model, manufacturer, serial number, unique identifier, etc. of theantenna 108 is allowed to be utilized by the type, make, model,manufacturer, serial number, unique identifier, etc. of the radio 102.Similarly, the enforcer 112 may compare the type, make, model,manufacturer, serial number, unique identifier, authenticity of productattributes of the antenna 108 and/or the radio 102 to a rule regardingwhether the antenna 108 and/or the radio 102 are permitted to beutilized with a third party antenna or radio or are permitted to beutilized with a counterfeit antenna or radio. In another example, theenforcer 112 may compare license and/or warranty validity attributes ofthe antenna 108 and/or the radio 102 to a rule regarding whether theantenna 108 and/or the radio 102 are permitted to be utilized without anactive license and/or active warranty with a commercial entity.

The enforcer 112 may determine, by the comparison of the attributes ofthe antenna 108 and/or the attributes of the radio 102 to the rule,whether the utilization of the antenna 108, having its correspondingcollected attributes, by the radio 102, having its correspondingcollected attributes, is permitted. The enforcer 112 may determine thatthe utilization is permitted if it does not violate a rule. In suchinstances, the enforcer 112 may modify an application of the enablingsignal to the disabling switch 110 by applying the enabling signal tothe disabling switch 110. The enforcer 112 may determine that theutilization is not permitted if it potentially violates a rule. In suchinstances, the enforcer 112 may modify an application of the enablingsignal to the disabling switch 110 by refraining from and/ordiscontinuing application of an enabling signal to the disabling switch110.

The disabling switch 110 may disable the function of the antenna 108 inresponse to not receiving and/or no longer receiving an enabling signalfrom the enforcer 112. A disabled antenna 108 may include an antenna 108that is rendered non-functional and/or unavailable to be utilized by theradio 102. The disabling switch 110 may enable the function of theantenna 108 in response to receiving and/or continuing to receive anenabling signal from the enforcer 112. An enabled antenna 108 mayinclude an antenna 108 that is rendered unavailable to be utilized bythe radio 102.

The rules may be collected by the enforcer 112 from the rule repository120. However, the rules may be collected and/or updated from a remoterule repository that is remote from the antenna housing 106, such asfrom a remote server operated by a regulatory body or commercialentities such as manufacturers, distributors, service providers,maintenance providers, leasing entities, etc. That is, the rules may becollected and/or updated from a discrete rule repository that isexternally operated.

A third compliance mode may include a radio configuration verificationmode. In radio configuration mode, the enforcer 112 may compare theattributes of the antenna 108 and/or the attributes of the radio 102 toa rule. The enforcer 112 may collect the attributes of the antenna 108from a sensor 116 and/or an attribute repository 114.

In the radio configuration verification mode, the enforcer 112 maycollect the attributes of the radio 102 from a sensing radio 118. Forexample, the enforcer may collect the attributes of the radio 102 from aTx sensing radio inline in the connection between the radio 102 and theantenna 108. In this manner, the enforcer 112 may collect the attributesof the radio 102 without utilizing communication outside of the antennahousing 106 by using the Tx sensing radio to intercept and analyzeattributes of the radio 102 from a signal traversing the connection enroute to the antenna 108.

In the radio configuration verification mode, the enforcer 112 maycollect the rules from the rule repository 120. However, the rules maybe collected and/or updated from a rule repository remote from theantenna housing 106, such as from a remote server operated by aregulatory body or commercial entities such as manufacturers,distributors, service providers, maintenance providers, leasingentities, etc.

In the radio configuration verification mode, the enforcer 112 maycompare the attributes of the antenna 108 and/or the attributes of theradio 102 to a rule. For example, the enforcer 112 may compare aconfigured EIRP and antenna gain attribute of the antenna 108 and/or aconfigured EIRP and/or conducted power attribute of the radio 102 to arule regarding an EIRP limit. The enforcer 112 may compare the operatingcenter frequency and channel bandwidth attributes of the antenna 108and/or the radio 102 to a rule regarding permitted operating centerfrequencies and/or channel bandwidths. In another example, the enforcer112 may compare Tx duty cycle attributes of the antenna 108 and/or theradio 102 to a rule regarding permitted Tx duty cycles.

The enforcer 112 may determine, by the comparison of the attributes ofthe antenna 108 and/or the attributes of the radio 102 to the rule,whether the utilization of the antenna 108, having its correspondingcollected attributes, by the radio 102, having its correspondingcollected attributes, is permitted. The enforcer 112 may determine thatthe utilization is permitted if it does not violate a rule. In suchinstances, the enforcer may modify an application of the enabling signalto the disabling switch by applying the enabling signal to the disablingswitch 110. The enforcer 112 may determine that the utilization is notpermitted if it potentially violates a rule. In such instances, theenforcer may modify an application of the enabling signal to thedisabling switch by refraining from and/or discontinuing application ofan enabling signal to the disabling switch 110.

The disabling switch 110 may disable the function of the antenna 108 inresponse to not receiving and/or no longer receiving an enabling signalfrom the enforcer 112. A disabled antenna 108 may include an antenna 108that is rendered non-functional and/or unavailable to be utilized by theradio 102. The disabling switch 110 may enable the function of theantenna 108 in response to receiving and/or continuing to receive anenabling signal from the enforcer 112. An enabled antenna 108 mayinclude an antenna 108 that is rendered unavailable to be utilized bythe radio 102.

A fourth compliance mode may include a detect and vacate mode. In detectand vacate mode, the enforcer 112 may compare the attributes of theantenna 108 and/or the attributes of the radio 102 to a rule. Theenforcer 112 may collect the attributes of the antenna 108 from a sensor116 and/or an attribute repository 114. The enforcer 112 may collect theattributes of the radio 102 from a sensing radio 118, such as a Txsensing radio, from the attribute repository 114, and/or from acommunication with the radio 102.

The detect and vacate mode may also include the utilization of an Rxsensing radio. For example, in detect and vacate mode, the enforcer 112may collect the rules from the rule repository 120. However, the rulesmay be collected and/or updated from a sensing radio 118 such as an Rxsensing radio. The rules, in such examples, may be a detected presenceof an incumbent radio link the beam path of antenna 108 that, ifinterfered with, may constitute a violation of a rule. That is, the rulemay include a rule that defines an incumbent radio link, a rule thatdefines a prohibition on the inference with the incumbent radio link,and/or a detected presence of a signal with an incumbent radiolink-matching signal signature residing in a beam path.

In the detect and vacate mode, the enforcer 112 may compare theattributes of the antenna 108 and/or the attributes of the radio 102 toa rule. That is, the enforcer 112 may compare the attributes of theantenna 108 and/or the attributes of the radio 102 to a radio signaldetected by the Rx sensing radio. The enforcer 112 may compare theattributes of the antenna 108 and/or the attributes of the radio 102 toa presence or an absence of an incumbent radio link. In this manner, acomparison of an attribute of the radio 102 and/or antenna 108 to a rulecomprising the presence of a potentially incumbent radio link detectedby the Rx sensing radio may inform a determination as to whether autilization of the antenna by the radio is permitted.

The enforcer 112 may determine, by the comparison of the attributes ofthe antenna 108 and/or the attributes of the radio 102 to the rule,whether the utilization of the antenna 108, having its correspondingcollected attributes, by the radio 102, having its correspondingcollected attributes, is permitted. The enforcer 112 may determine thatthe utilization is permitted if it does not pose a risk of interferencewith an incumbent radio link above a threshold amount. In suchinstances, the enforcer 112 may modify an application of the enablingsignal to the disabling switch 110 by applying the enabling signal tothe disabling switch 110. The enforcer 112 may determine that theutilization is not permitted if it poses a risk of interference with anincumbent radio link above a threshold amount. In such instances, theenforcer 112 may modify an application of the enabling signal to thedisabling switch 110 by refraining from and/or discontinuing applicationof an enabling signal to the disabling switch 110.

The disabling switch 110 may disable the function of the antenna 108 inresponse to not receiving and/or no longer receiving an enabling signalfrom the enforcer 112. A disabled antenna 108 may include an antenna 108that is rendered non-functional and/or unavailable to be utilized by theradio 102. The disabling switch 110 may enable the function of theantenna 108 in response to receiving and/or continuing to receive anenabling signal from the enforcer 112. An enabled antenna 108 mayinclude an antenna 108 that is rendered unavailable to be utilized bythe radio 102.

A fifth compliance mode may include an external authorization mode. Inexternal authorization mode, the enforcer 112 may collect the attributesof the antenna 108 and/or the attributes of the radio 102. The enforcer112 may collect the attributes of the antenna 108 from a sensor 116and/or an attribute repository 114. The enforcer 112 may collect theattributes of the radio 102 from the sensing radio 118, fromcommunication with the radio 102, from and/or from an attributerepository 114.

In external authorization mode, the enforcer 112 may transmit theattributes of the antenna 108 and/or the attributes of the radio 102 toan external authorization manager 122. The external authorizationmanager 122 may be remote from the antenna housing 106 and the enforcer112 may transmit the attributes of the antenna 108 and/or the attributesof the radio 102 to an external authorization manager 122 via acommunication link between the enforcer 112 and the externalauthorization manager 122. The external authorization manager 122 may beoperated by a manufacturer of the antenna 108 and/or the radio 102, aregulatory body, and/or a third party.

The external authorization manager 122 may include and/or access toattributes of incumbent radio links. As described above, an incumbentradio link may include a radio system, a radio signal, a radio linkbetween a transmitting radio and a receiving radio, transmitting radioin a radio link, a receiving radio in a radio link, and/or atransmitting or receiving purpose associated with a radio system that isgiven precedent over other radio systems or radio spectrum utilizationpurposes with regard to use of a portion of the spectrum. An incumbentradio link may include a radio link between two radio systems that arelicensed through a regulatory body to utilize a portion of the radiospectrum. The external authorization manager 122 may include and/oraccess a repository of radio spectrum rules that is remote from theantenna housing 106.

The external authorization manager 122 may compare the attributes of theantenna 108, the attributes of the radio 102, and/or an attribute of anincumbent radio link to a rule. The comparison may include determining,based on the attributes of the antenna 108, the attributes of the radio102, and/or an attribute of an incumbent radio link, whether autilization of the antenna 108 by the radio 102 poses a risk ofinterference with an incumbent radio link above a threshold amount. Therule may include a rule prohibiting interference with the incumbentradio link.

The external authorization manager 122 may determine, based on thecomparison, that the utilization of the antenna 108 by the radio 102poses a risk of interference with the incumbent radio link above athreshold amount and that inference would constitute a violation of arule. In such examples, the external authorization manager 122 mayrefrain from transmitting and/or discontinue transmitting an authorizingsignal to the enforcer 112.

Alternatively, the external authorization manager 122 may determine,based on the comparison, that the utilization of the antenna 108 by theradio 102 does not have a risk of interference with the incumbent radiolink above a threshold amount and therefore will not cause an inferencewith the incumbent radio link that would constitute a violation of arule. In such examples, the external authorization manager 122 maytransmit and/or continue transmitting an authorizing signal to theenforcer 112.

The enforcer 112 may determine, based on the authorizing signal, whetherthe utilization of the antenna 108 by the radio 102 is permitted. Theenforcer 112 may determine that the utilization is permitted when itreceives and/or continues to receive an authorization signal from theexternal authorization manager 122. In such instances, the enforcer 112may an application of the enabling signal to the disabling switch byapplying the enabling signal to the disabling switch 110. The enforcer112 may determine that the utilization is not permitted when it has notreceived and/or is no longer receiving an authorizing signal from theexternal authorization manager. In such instances, the enforcer 112 maymodify an application of the enabling signal to the disabling switch byrefraining from and/or discontinuing application of an enabling signalto the disabling switch 110.

The disabling switch 110 may disable the function of the antenna 108 inresponse to not receiving and/or no longer receiving an enabling signalfrom the enforcer 112. A disabled antenna 108 may include an antenna 108that is rendered non-functional and/or unavailable to be utilized by theradio 102. The disabling switch 110 may enable the function of theantenna 108 in response to receiving and/or continuing to receive anenabling signal from the enforcer 112. An enabled antenna 108 mayinclude an antenna 108 that is rendered unavailable to be utilized bythe radio 102.

In some examples, ongoing and/or periodic authorizing signals from theexternal authorization manager 122 may be involved that occur on thescale of seconds, minutes, hours, or longer. The enforcer 112 mayrefrain from and/or discontinue transmitting and enabling signal for thedisabling switch 110 in the event that communication between theenforcer 112 and the external authorization manager 122 is lost and/or asubsequent authorization signal is removed or rescinded. Additionally,the external authorization manager 122 may be configured to refrain fromand/or discontinue transmitting an authorization signal to an enforcer112 on demand, such as in response to request from an administrator ofthe external authorization manager rather than as a result of acomparison of attributes of the antenna 108, the attributes of the radio102, and/or an attribute of an incumbent radio link to a rule.

In addition to the compliance modes discussed above, the system 100 mayalso include a registration mode. In a registration mode a radio 102and/or an antenna 108 may register itself with the externalauthorization manager 122 upon deployment. That is, responsive to beingactivated, powered on for a first time, and/or combined in a radiosystem, the radio 102 and/or an antenna 108 may establish communicationwith the external authorization manager and/or register themselvesand/or their attributes with an external authorization manager 122without operator and/or installer intervention.

In other examples, the radio 102 may, when combined with an antenna 108and/or and antenna housing 106 that lacks the enforcer 112 and/or thedisabling switch 110, report this information to the externalauthorization manager. As such, the external authorization manager 122may be utilized to identify and disrupt the use of the radio 102 with anantenna 108 and/or and antenna housing 106 that lacks the enforcer 112and/or the disabling switch 110 by reporting the combination toregulating authorities.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example system 230for an antenna,consistent with the disclosure. In the example of FIG. 2, system 230includes a processing resource and a machine-readable storage medium234. Although the following descriptions refer to an individualprocessing resource and an individual machine-readable storage medium,the descriptions may also apply to a system with multiple processingresources and multiple machine-readable storage mediums. In suchexamples, the instructions may be distributed across multiplemachine-readable storage mediums and the instructions may be distributedacross multiple processing resources. Put another way, the instructionsmay be stored across multiple machine-readable storage mediums andexecuted across multiple processing resources, such as in a distributedcomputing environment.

Processing resource may be a central processing unit (CPU),microprocessor, and/or other hardware device suitable for retrieval andexecution of instructions stored in machine-readable storage medium 234.In the particular example shown in FIG. 2, processing resource mayreceive, determine, and send instructions 236, 238, 240, 242, and 244.As an alternative or in addition to retrieving and executinginstructions, processing resource may include an electronic circuitcomprising an electronic component for performing the operations of theinstructions in machine-readable storage medium 234. With respect to theexecutable instruction representations or boxes described and shownherein, it should be understood that part or all of the executableinstructions and/or electronic circuits included within one box may beincluded in a different box shown in the figures or in a different boxnot shown.

Machine-readable storage medium 234 may be any electronic, magnetic,optical, or other physical storage device that stores executableinstructions. Thus, machine-readable storage medium 234 may be, forexample, Random Access Memory (RAM), an Electrically-ErasableProgrammable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM), a storage drive, an opticaldisc, and the like. The executable instructions may be “installed” onthe system 230 illustrated in FIG. 2. Machine-readable storage medium234 may be a portable, external or remote storage medium, for example,that allows the system 230 to download the instructions from theportable/external/remote storage medium. In this situation, theexecutable instructions may be part of an “installation package”. Asdescribed herein, machine-readable storage medium 234 may be encodedwith executable instructions related to antenna modulation.

Instructions 236, when executed by processing resource may cause system230 to determine an attribute of an antenna. The attribute of theantenna may be determined at an antenna housing that houses the antenna.The attribute of the antenna may be determined by retrieving theattribute from an attribute repository stored in the antenna housing.The attribute of the antenna may be determined from a sensor in theantenna housing that senses the attribute of the antenna.

Instructions 238, when executed by processing resource, may cause system230 to determine an attribute of a radio. Determining the attribute ofthe radio may include determining an attribute of a transmitting radioand/or a receiving radio that is connected to the antenna. In someexamples, the radio may reside in the antenna housing. In otherexamples, the radio may reside external to and remote from the antennahousing.

The attribute of the radio may be measure by a sensing radio. Forexample, the attribute of the radio may be detected by a transmit (Tx)sensing radio. The Tx sensing radio may be a discrete and separate radiofrom the above described radio connected to the antenna. The Tx radiomay be located within the antenna housing inline in a path between theradio and the antenna.

Instructions 240, when executed by processing resource, may cause system230 to determine an attribute of an incumbent transmitter signal. Theincumbent transmitter signal may include a radio signal intercepted bythe antenna from a transmission across an incumbent radio link. Theincumbent transmitter signal may be detected by a receive (Rx) sensingradio. The Rx sensing radio may be a discrete and separate radio fromboth the above described radio connected to the antenna and the abovedescribed Tx sensing radio. The Rx sensing radio may be located withinthe antenna housing inline in a path between the radio and the antenna.As such, the attribute of an incumbent transmitter signal may bedetermined at the antenna housing.

Instructions 242, when executed by processing resource, may cause thesystem 230 to determine whether a utilization of the antenna by theradio is permitted. A utilization of the antenna by the radio mayinclude the radio generating a radio frequency alternating current bymodulating a property of energy to impress a signal upon it, the radiosupplying the radio frequency alternating current to the antenna, theantenna converting the radio frequency alternating current intoelectromagnetic energy radio waves, and/or the antenna radiating theradio waves into space.

A determination whether the utilization of the antenna by the radio ispermitted may be in response to an attribute of the antenna, theattribute of the radio, and the attribute of the incumbent transmittersignal. For example, the determination whether the utilization of theantenna by the radio is permitted may be in response to a comparison ofan attribute of the antenna, the attribute of the radio, an attribute ofthe incumbent transmitter signal, and/or a rule.

In an example, the determination whether the utilization of the antennaby the radio is permitted may include that utilization is permitted whenthe antenna is designated as a permitted antenna for combination withthe radio by the radio manufacturer. Whether or not the antenna isdesignated as a permitted antenna for combination with the radio by theradio manufacturer may be determined by querying a repository of ruleslocal to and/or remote from the antenna housing.

In some examples, the determination whether the utilization of theantenna by the radio is permitted may be performed by and/or based on asignal from an external authorization manager such as the externalauthorization manager 122 described in FIG. 1. The externalauthorization manager may be discrete, separate, and/or remote from theantenna housing. For example, the attribute of the antenna, theattribute of the radio, and/or the attribute of the incumbenttransmitter signal may be transmitted from the antenna housing to anexternal authorization manager. The external authorization manager mayutilize the transmitted attributes to perform the determination ofwhether the utilization of the antenna by the radio is permitted.

In some examples, the system 230 may negotiate with the externalauthorization manager. For example, the external authorization managermay compare the attribute of the antenna, the attribute of the radio,and/or the attribute of the incumbent transmitter signal and determinethat the utilization of the antenna by the radio would result in aviolation of a rule. As such, the external authorization manager maydetermine that the utilization of the antenna by the radio is notpermitted. The external authorization manager may communicate back tothe antenna housing the determination that the utilization is notpermitted. In some examples, the external authorization manager maycommunicate back to the antenna housing a reason why the utilization wasdetermined to not be permitted. For example, the external authorizationmanager may communicate back to the antenna housing that the EIRPassociated with the utilization of the antenna by the radio, asdetermined from the attribute comparison, violates a rule because it istoo high by 10 decibels (dB). In response to the determination that theutilization is not permitted and/or the reasons for the determination,the system 230 may adjust an attribute of the antenna and/or the radioin order bring the utilization in compliance with rules. For example,the power of the radio and/or the antenna may be reduced by 10 dB.Responsive to adjusting the attribute of the antenna and/or the radio,the system 230 may resubmit the adjusted attribute of the antenna to theexternal authorization manager to perform a second determination ofwhether the utilization of the antenna by the radio is permitted. Theexternal authorization manager may then determine that the utilizationis allowed.

Instructions 244, when executed by processing resource, may cause thesystem 230 to modify an ability of the antenna to radiate a signal fromthe antenna. The ability of the antenna to radiate a signal may bemodified in response to the determination whether the utilization ispermitted. For example, modifying the ability of the antenna to radiatea signal may include switching the antenna from a default non-radiatingstate to a radiating state in response to a determination that theutilization of the antenna by the radio is permitted. Modifying theability of the antenna to radiate a signal may include switching theantenna from the radiating state back to the default non-radiating statein response to a determination that the utilization of the antenna bythe radio is no longer permitted.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an example of a device 350 such as anantenna consistent with the disclosure. The device 350 may include anantenna housing 352. The antenna housing 352 may include an antenna 354.That is, a portion of the antenna 354 may be within the antenna housing352.

The antenna housing 352 may include a receive sensing radio 356. Aportion of the receive sensing radio 356 may be within the antennahousing 352. The receive sensing radio 356 may be in line in a signalpath between a radio and an antenna 354. The receive sensing radio 356may be discrete and physically separate from the radio. The receivesensing radio 356 may perform a wideband scan of signals intercepted bythe antenna 354 to detect an incumbent transmitter in the operating areaof the antenna 354.

The antenna housing 352 may include a transmit sensing radio. A portionof the transmit sensing radio may be within the antenna housing 352. Thetransmit sensing radio may be in line in a signal path between a radioand an antenna 354. The transmit sensing radio may be discrete andphysically separate from both the radio and the receive sensing radio356. The transmit sensing radio may measure a characteristic of a signaltransmitted from the radio to the antenna 354. For example, the transmitsensing radio may measure a transmitting power of the radio based on ananalysis of the signal transmitted from the radio to the antenna 354.

In some examples, the antenna housing 352 may include a sensor. Thesensor may be part of a sensor array. A portion of the sensor may bewithin the antenna housing 352. The sensor may determine an attribute ofthe antenna 324. For example, the sensor may determine a latitude of theantenna 354, longitude of the antenna 354, country of operation of theantenna 354, an elevation of the antenna 354, a pointing azimuth of theantenna 354, a pointing tilt angle of the antenna 354, whether theantenna 354 is deployed outdoors, whether the antenna 354 is in motion,a velocity of travel of the antenna 354, a temperature of the antenna354, etc.

In some examples, the antenna housing 352 may include an attributerepository. The attribute repository may include machine-readablestorage medium, a portion of which is within the antenna housing 352,for storing attributes of the antenna 354. The attributes of the antenna354 stored in the attribute repository may be provisioned at the time ofmanufacture of the device 350. The attribute repository may include anencrypted and/or non-alterable database. In some examples, the attributerepository may include a trusted platform module (TPM) to secure theattribute repository by integrating cryptographic keys.

The data from the transmit sensing radio, the receive sensing radio 356,the sensor, and/or an attribute repository within the antenna housing352 may be utilized in a radio frequency regulatory compliance systemsuch as system 100 illustrated in FIG. 1. Additionally, the data fromthe transmit sensing radio, the receive sensing radio 356, the sensor,and/or an attribute repository within the antenna housing 352 may beutilized in the performance adjustment and/or the maintenance systems.

For example, an operating country of an antenna 354 may be determinedfrom GPS data from the sensor. The GPS data from the sensor may also beutilized to determine an operating country change for a mobile antenna354. An operating country and/or a change in operating country may beprovided to the radio. The radio may utilize the data to choose a legaloperating channel for its present country of operation.

In another example, GPS data from the sensor may be transmitted to otherantennas and/or to a network manager. The GPS data from two or moreantennas in a point-to-point (PtP) or point-to-multipoint (PtMP) radiosystem may be utilized to determine a roundtrip time-of-flight toconfigure a timeout or other protocol operation at layer 2 and above.

In another example, GPS data from a sensor may be combined with areceived signal power data from a receive sensing radio 356. The datamay be transmitted to other antennas and/or to a network manager. TheGPS data combined with the received signal power data may be utilized todirectly measure a fading characteristic of a PtP or PtMP radio link. Asused herein, the term fading characteristic may, for example, include ametric of an attenuation of a signal sent between antennas. The metricof attenuation may be based on variables including time, geographicposition, and radio frequency.

In yet another example, a mismatch of antenna 354 with the radio may bedetected, such as when the antenna 354 is not designed or able tosupport the center frequency that was selected by the radio utilizingit. A mismatch may be determined by comparing the radio attribute datadetected by transmit sensing radio to antenna attribute data retrievedfrom attribute repository.

In another example, the velocity of travel of the antenna 354 detectedby the sensor may be utilized to perform Doppler adjustments. TheDoppler adjustments may increase channel estimation accuracy.

In another example, velocity of travel, location, and/or angle data ofthe antenna 354 may be incorporated in a mechanical tracking system. Themechanical tracking system may be utilized to determine and maintain anantenna alignment when either or both ends of a radio link are in motionrelative to one another.

In another example, temperature data from the antenna housing 352 may beutilized to detect overheating or under-heating conditions in theantenna housing 352. The temperature data may be utilized to alert thedevice 350 of overheating or under-heating conditions in order to deployameliorative measures and/or trigger a maintenance call.

In another example, acceleration data, altitude data, and compass datamay be utilized to detect a progressive misalignment of the antenna 354caused by wind or other forces over time. The data may also be used todetect a sudden catastrophic misalignment due to a failure of theantenna housing 352 and/or antenna housing mounts.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a system 460 for an antenna consistentwith the disclosure. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the system 400 may be aradio system for transmitting and receiving information using radiowaves.

The system 460 may include a radio 462. A radio 462 may includeelectronic components to operate as a radio transmitter and/or a radioreceiver. That is, the radio 462 may include radio frequency transmitand/or receive functionality.

The radio 462 may generate a radio frequency alternating current bymodulating a property of energy to impress a signal upon. The radio 462may supply the radio frequency alternating current to an antenna 464.

The antenna 464 may include a radiating portion that radiateselectromagnetic energy waves, or radio waves, in a particularthree-dimensional region of space in response to a signal from a radio462 utilizing the antenna 464 for transmitting and receiving radiosignals. The three-dimensional region may be defined by a property ofeach antenna 464 called its “pattern”. For example, the antenna 464 mayinclude a directional or an omnidirectional pattern, or may be capableof switching between the two in some implementations. The antenna 464may convert a radio frequency alternating current received from theradio 462 to the electromagnetic energy waves, or radio waves, andradiate those waves into space. An antenna 464 may also intercept aportion of the power of an electromagnetic waves traveling through spacein order to produce a voltage to the radio 462. The radio 462 mayelectronically amplify and/or extract information via demodulation ofthe electromagnetic wave.

The system 460 may include an enforcer 466. The enforcer 466 may belocal to the antenna 464. For example, the enforcer 466 may includeelectronic components and/or machine-readable instructions executable bya processing resource associated with an antenna housing containing theantenna 464. In some examples, the electronic components and/orprocessing resource may be located within the antenna housing.

The enforcer 466 may include electronic components and/ormachine-readable instructions executable by a processing resource tomodify an enabling signal provided to a disabling switch. Modifying theenabling signal may include controlling a state of the enabling signal.For example, modifying the enabling signal may include producing and/orproviding the enabling signal. Modifying the enabling signal may includediscontinuing production of and/or discontinuing the provision of theenabling signal. The enabling signal may include a physical signaland/or digital instructions provided to the disabling switch. Responsiveto receiving the enabling signal, the disabling switch may enable theoperation of the antenna 464. For example, response to receiving theenabling signal, the disabling switch may eliminate the interruption ofpower to the antenna 464 and/or may eliminate the interruption of thecommunication of a signal from the radio 462 to the antenna 464. Thedisabling switch may, for example, eliminate the interruption byswitching the disabling switch from a default open state to a closedstate.

The enforcer 466 may modify the enabling signal by producing theenabling signal and/or applying the enabling signal to the disablingswitch. Applying the enabling signal to the disabling switch may causethe disabling switch to enable the antenna 464 for use as an antenna forthe radio 462. The disabling switch may continue to enable the antenna464 for use as an antenna for the radio 462 as long as the enablingsignal is continuously applied. In some examples, the disabling switchmay continue to enable the antenna 464 for utilization as a radio signalradiator for the radio 462 so long as the disabling switch receivesadditional enabling signals or enabling signal confirmations withinpredetermined periods of time. In some examples, the disabling switchmay continue to enable the antenna 464 for utilization as an antenna forthe radio 462 until a disabling signal is received. The disabling signalmay include the absence of an enabling signal, or an explicit disablingsignal. As such, the enforcer may modify the enabling signal by applyingthe enabling signal to the disabling switch continuously, applying theenabling signal to the disabling switch periodically, discontinuing theapplication of the enabling signal to the disabling switch, and/orapplying a disabling signal to the disabling switch.

The enforcer 466 may modify the enabling signal in response to adetermination whether a utilization of the antenna 464 by the radio 462is permitted. The determination of whether a utilization of the antenna464 by the radio 462 is permitted may be based on a comparison of anattribute of the antenna 464 to a rule. Additionally, the determinationof whether a utilization of the antenna 464 by the radio 462 ispermitted may be based on a comparison of an attribute of the radio 462to a rule. In some examples, the determination of whether a utilizationof the antenna 464 by the radio 462 is permitted may be based on acomparison of an attribute of the radio 462 and an attribute of theantenna 464 to a rule.

In some examples, the enforcer 466 may include the disabling switch. Forexample, the enforcer 466 may be part of the disabling switch. In someexamples, the enforcer 466 may include machine-readable instructionsexecutable by a processor to perform the functions of the disablingswitch.

In the foregoing detailed description of the disclosure, reference ismade to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in whichis shown by way of illustration how examples of the disclosure may bepracticed. These examples are described in sufficient detail to enablethose of ordinary skill in the art to practice the examples of thisdisclosure, and it is to be understood that other examples may beutilized and that process, electrical, and/or structural changes may bemade without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

The figures herein follow a numbering convention in which the firstdigit corresponds to the drawing figure number and the remaining digitsidentify an element or component in the drawing. Elements shown in thevarious figures herein can be added, exchanged, and/or eliminated so asto provide a plurality of additional examples of the disclosure. Inaddition, the proportion and the relative scale of the elements providedin the figures are intended to illustrate the examples of thedisclosure, and should not be taken in a limiting sense. As used herein,the designator “N”, particularly with respect to reference numerals inthe drawings, indicates that a plurality of the particular feature sodesignated can be included with examples of the disclosure. Thedesignators can represent the same or different numbers of theparticular features. Further, as used herein, “a plurality of” anelement and/or feature can refer to more than one of such elementsand/or features. Furthermore, as used herein “a”, “an”, and/or singularnouns may refer to one or more than one.

What is claimed:
 1. A system, comprising: a radio; an antenna connectedto the radio, wherein the antenna is non-functional until an enablingsignal is received; and an enforcer to: modify the enabling signal inresponse to a determination whether a utilization of the antenna by theradio is permitted.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the determinationis in response to a comparison of an attribute of the antenna to a rule.3. The system of claim 2, wherein the attribute of the antenna includesa three-dimensional orientation of the antenna collected from a sensorlocal to the antenna.
 4. The system of claim 2, wherein thedetermination is in response to a comparison of an attribute of theradio to the rule, wherein the attribute of the radio is collected by asensing radio local to the antenna.
 5. The system of claim 1, whereinthe determination is in response to a comparison of a radio model of theutilization of the antenna by the radio to a radio model of an incumbentradio link.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the determination is madeby the enforcer and wherein the enforcer is local to the antenna.
 7. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the determination is in response to anauthorization signal received from a remote external authorizationsystem.
 8. A non-transitory machine readable storage medium havingstored thereon machine readable instructions to cause a computingprocessor to: determine, at an antenna housing, an attribute of anantenna; determine an attribute of a radio connected to the antenna,wherein the attribute is detected by a transmit sensing radio in theantenna housing; determine, at the antenna housing, an attribute of anincumbent transmitter signal by a receive sensing radio; determine, inresponse to the attribute of the antenna, the attribute of the radio,and the attribute of the incumbent transmitter signal, whether autilization of the antenna by the radio is permitted; and modify anability of the antenna to radiate a signal from the antenna in responseto the determination whether the utilization is permitted.
 9. The mediumof claim 8, comprising instructions to: determine that the utilizationof the antenna by the radio is permitted when the antenna is designateda permitted antenna by a manufacturer of the radio.
 10. The medium ofclaim 8, comprising instructions to: submit the attribute of theantenna, the attribute of the radio, and the attribute of the incumbenttransmitter signal to an external authorization manager to perform thedetermination of whether the utilization of the antenna by the radio ispermitted; adjust an attribute of the antenna responsive to adetermination that the utilization is not permitted; and resubmit theadjusted attribute of the antenna to the external authorization managerto perform a second determination of whether the utilization of theantenna by the radio is permitted.
 11. The medium of claim 8, whereinthe instructions to modify the ability of the antenna to radiate asignal from the radio in response to the determination includeinstructions to switch the antenna from a default non-radiating state toa radiating state in response to a determination that the utilization ofthe antenna by the radio is permitted.
 12. The medium of claim 11,comprising instructions to: switch the antenna from the radiating stateback to the default non-radiating state in response to a determinationthat the utilization of the antenna by the radio is no longer permitted.13. A device comprising: an antenna housing including: an antenna; and areceive sensing radio to perform a wideband scan for an incumbenttransmitter.
 14. The device of claim 13, wherein the receive sensingradio is a dedicated receive sensing radio discrete from a radioproviding a service through a utilization of the antenna to transmit asignal.
 15. The antenna housing of claim 13, including a transmitsensing radio to measure a characteristic of a signal transmitted from aradio to the antenna, wherein the transmitting radio is in line betweenthe radio and the antenna.